Steph Claire Smith’s quick and low effort end-of-day workout

A 10-minute core workout

This workout, provided by Steph Claire Smith, is low impact yet you will feel great knowing you have dedicated some time to yourself and to give your core a workout.

After sitting or standing all day, we can forget to tend to our core, but it’s an important part of the body to strengthen, as it holds our posture and underpins all our movements.

Working the core can enhance our posture, balance and stability, and it can also help to prevent back pain or injury.

Perform each move for 45 seconds, then stop for 15 seconds to rest.

Once you’ve completed each exercise, pause for a minute and then complete a second round.

Crunches

Lying down, bend your knees and place the soles of your feet on the floor. Your hands are placed behind your head to support your neck. Breathe in to prepare, exhale lift your head and shoulders towards your knees, inhale to lower.

Heel taps

Lying down, bend your knees and place the soles of your feet on the floor, reach your hands towards your feet as you crunch and hold. Reach for one heel and then the next, trying to shorten your side as you reach to work your obliques.

Bicycle crunches

Place your hands behind your head, legs to table top, crunch and hold. Twist to one side as you extend the opposite leg long, then switch. If you get confused, imagine you’re pedalling on a bike!

Leg raises

Place your hands under your tailbone and send your legs straight up to the sky. Draw your bellybutton to your spine, slowly lower your legs as far as you feel comfortable, exhale to lift them back to the sky. For a challenge, reach your hands to the sky.

Dead bugs

Bring your legs to table top and your arms to sky. Reach your opposite arm and leg in opposing directions, return to centre and swap sides.

A little workout goes a long way

Even a workout of 10-minutes will be beneficial – it’ll get you moving, can be done in the comfort of your own home, and may even leave you feeling more energised.

On those days when you’re feeling tired or demotivated, consider doing this quick and low-effort workout – you’ll find that a little movement goes a long way.